How technology is changing healthcare

Penny Beechman is grateful to take part in the Pain Group in the Mental Health and Addictions Program at Niagara Health.

Every Monday, Mrs. Beechman, who has chronic back pain, meets with fellow group participants and a healthcare provider.

But while other members of the group are in a room at the St. Catharines hospital, Mrs. Beechman attends virtually through video conferencing at Niagara Health’s Greater Niagara General Site in Niagara Falls.

It is difficult for Mrs. Beechman to travel to St. Catharines from her Niagara Falls home. When the Niagara Health team learned of this, they asked if she’d be interested in joining the group through video conferencing using the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN).

Telemedicine uses telecommunications technology to provide clinical healthcare in Ontario at a distance. OTN is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care charged with building a sustainable and responsive virtual care system.

Niagara Health uses telemedicine for patient care in several different programs. The Mental Health and Addictions Program is a leader in this area, having used the technology more than 1,000 times for patient care last year.

Mrs. Beechman says she’s thankful for the technology.

“It’s a big relief and it’s kind of cool,” she says of OTN. “The group has been a great experience. I have the support and I know I’m not alone. I have other people I can share my story with in the group. I’ve learned a lot.”

OTN was first introduced in the Mental Health and Addictions Program more than four years ago, so psychiatrists at the St. Catharines Site could consult with patients who presented with mental health or addictions issues at one of our other sites, allowing for more timely care for patients. Psychiatrists who are on call can also use the technology from home, consulting with patients at one of our sites.

Care 'close to home'

Dr. Amin A. Muhammad, Niagara Health’s Interim Chief of Mental Health and Addictions, says telemedicine has been a positive experience for patients, their families and staff.

“I feel very excited about this,” says Dr. Muhammad. “I have the confidence wherever the patient is, we can see them if we have an OTN connection there. There are no limitations. It’s important we can be one-to-one with patients and be able to see them.”

Barb Pizzingrilli, Director of the Mental Health and Addictions Program, adds: “I think it’s wonderful. This certainly gives us the ability to provide care close to home for patients.”

The program is continuously looking at opportunities to expand programming offered through OTN technology.

Here are other examples of how telemedicine is used at Niagara Health to provide care:

Stroke program

The Niagara Health District Stroke Centre at the Greater Niagara General Site in Niagara Falls has been using telemedicine for more than a decade. Here’s an example: When a patient suffering a stroke is brought to the GNG Emergency Department, time is of the essence to care for them, which includes being seen by a neurologist immediately. If a neurologist is not at the hospital, they can evaluate the patient virtually through telemedicine from their office or home. The neurologist is then able to determine the next treatment steps for the patient, including the possibility of administering t-PA, a clot-busting drug that may improve an ischemic stroke.

Oncology program

Telemedicine is used extensively for patient care within Niagara Health’s Oncology Program. For example, Niagara cancer patients requiring consultation with a medical expert at another cancer centre in Ontario can connect with the healthcare provider through videoconferencing, reducing the need to travel.